Carrying device for groups of cans

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a carrying device for groups of cans, and particularly a normally planar rectangular plastic strip which is provided with a plurality of cut lines along its longitudinal centerline, and pairs of transverse cut lines on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline for forming openings which receive and snugly grip each can beneath its double seam. The carrying device is particularly adapted for association with necked-in cans, and for this purpose a pair of narrow bands are formed adjacent each opening for snugly surroundingly engaging the necked-in portions of each of the cans.

United States Patent 3,044,230 7/1962 Fisher 294/872 2,994,426 8/1961 Biesecker et al. 206/65 C 2,881,914 4/1959 Woeber et a1. 206/65C Primary Examiner-- Leonard Summer AltorneyDiller, Brown, Ramik & Holt ABSTRACT: This disclosure relates to a carrying device for groups of cans, and particularly a normally planar rectangular plastic strip which is provided with a plurality of cut lines along its longitudinal centerline, and pairs of transverse cut lines on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline for forming openings which receive and snugly grip each can beneath its double seam. The carrying device is particularly adapted for association with necked-in cans, and for this purpose a pair of narrow bands are formed adjacent each opening for snugly surroundingly engaging the necked-in portions of each of the scan sn 1% 22 a3 32 3'53, 3

14 m 27 3b 24 I6 CARIEWENC DEVICE lFOllt GROUPS OF CANS it is common in the packaging industry to provide carrying devices which maintain groups of cans, bottles or the like in four, six, eight, etc., pack configurations both for shipping and consumer use. Such conventional carrying devices include basket-style carriers, wraparound carriers, and more recently cluster" carriers. The latter carriers are generally constructed from a strip of plastic material of a rectangular configuration which is provided with a plurality of openings of diameters slightly smaller that the diameters of the cans which are inserted therein. The plastic material distends slightly when the containers are placed in the openings and the inherent reboundable nature of the plastic material brings the edges of the openings into intimate, snug, gripping engagement with each can.

As can be readily appreciated, such conventional cluster carriers include one main disadvantage, namely, the production of circular pieces of scrap material formed as a result of the cutting of the can-receiving openings. This presents a problem of waste removal during the manufacture of the cluster carriers, as well as an increase in cost since the waste discs must be scrapped.

in keeping with the foregoing, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel carrying device of the cluster type wherein the carrier is formed from a relatively narrow rectangular sheet of plastic material provided with a plurality of cut lines along the longitudinal center line thereof, and a out line adapted to form an article-receiving opening is disposed between each longitudinal edge of the carrier blank and the longitudinal center line whereby the first-mentioned pairs of cut lines permit the blank to be increased in size widthwise while the article-receiving cut lines can be opened to form openings to receive cans or similar articles, thereby providing a cluster carrier in the absence of waste material.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel carrier of the type heretofore set forth wherein a cut line is formed on either side of each article-receiving out line to define therewith a pair of narrow bands which partially surround portions of standard or necked-in can bodies to in each case intimately grip the cans to form an extremely stable package.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

in the drawing:

FIG. l is a top plan view of a carrier blank, and illustrates the blank constructed from a relatively narrow rectangular sheet of plastic material having a plurality of cut lines disposed along the longitudinal center line thereof, and three cut lines on each side of the longitudinal center line partially overlapping and spanning the distance between the adjacent pairs ofcut lines along the longitudinal center line.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the carrier blank of HG. l, and illustrates the manner in which cans or similar articles form a package in conjunction with the carrier.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of HO. 2, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which each of the cans is snugly received in an opening formed by the spreading of the carrier blank widthwise from the normal position shown in H0. i.

F l6. 4 is a highly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line l -4t of HO. 2, and illustrates the neckedin configuration of the can bodies and the manner in which a pair of narrow bands snugly engage each necked-in portion beneath the double seams.

Reference is first made to FIG. i of the drawing which dis closes a blank, generally designated by the reference numeral adapted to form a carrier Ill which in conjunction with a plurality of containers C or similar articles forms a package 12.

The blank llf) is preferably constructed from polymeric or copolymeric plastic material, such as polyethylene, and includes a pair of longitudinal edges 13, id and transverse edges 115, 116. A plurality of cut lines 20 through 23 are disposed along the longitudinal center line of the blank with stressrelief holes 24l associated with each of the cut lines. The cut lines 20. 21; 211, 22; and 22, 23 are in spaced relationship by respective portions 23 through 27.

The blank if) further includes six groups of three out lines, generally designated by the reference numeral 30, each group 30 including an article-receiving cut line 311 and cut lines 32, 33 to either side thereof. Each cut line 31 is disposed midway between the longitudinal edges 13 or 14 and the longitudinal center line of the blank 10. Each out line 311 also includes stress-relieving holes 341 at its ends, and each cut line 31 is slightly longer than the associated cut lines 32, 33. Each cut line 311 and its adjacent cut line define a narrow band 35 while each cut line 31 and its associated cut line 33 define another narrow band 36 of each of the six groups of cut lines 30.

The blank is positioned upon the container C in the manner best illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4 of the drawing by inserting each container C through the article-receiving cut lines 31 which causes the material of the blank adjacent thereto to temporarily stretch as each enlarged upper end portion 37 of the cans C which includes a double seam 38 is forced through the opening formed by the temporary stretch material adjacent the cut lines 311. Each of the containers C includes a necked-in portion 40 adjacent each double seam which merges with a body 411 by a frustoconical shoulder portion 42. After having passed the double seam 33 of each of the containers C, the inherent reboundable nature of the plastic material of the blank 10 causes the narrow bands 35, 36 to snugly partially surroundingly engage and grip the necked-in portions MD, in the manner best illustrated in H0. 4 of the drawing, while portions (unnumbered) inboard and outboard of the bands 35, 36 likewise snugly grippingly and surroundingly engage the frustoconical shoulder portions 42. The cut lines 32, 33 thereby function to permit the bands 35, 36 to engage the exterior surface of the necked-in portion 40 in complete surface contact while like complete surface contact is effected between the frustoconical shoulder portion 42 and portions outboard and inboard of the cut lines 32, 33, as best shown in FIG. 4. Furthermore, the cut lines 32, 33 and the bands 35, 365 permit the material to be more readily temporarily stretched during the initial application of the blank 10 upon the containers C which results in relative ease of assembly to form the package 112.

Though the invention thus described indicates the adaptability of the blank ill and the carrier ill to necked-in cans, the blank 10 is likewise adapted for use on regular non-necked, full-height cylindrical can bodies in which case the slits 32, 33 to either side of each of the article-receiving cut lines 31 act as a double grip or lock, one grip being affected by each of the bands 35, 36 and the additional grip being affected by the material inboard and outboard of the cut lines 32, 33.

The package l2 thus described forms an extremely rigid and strong unit which, due to the absence of article-receiving openings, as compared to the article-receiving slits 3i, achieves both a minimum amount of wasted space between adjacent cans C and no wasted material whatever by the formation of actual circular openings as in conventional blanks. Although primarily designed to form packages employing necked-in cans, the carrier ill will support and hold all types of cans or similar containers with strength and ease of handling.

it should also be appreciated that though the cans C are shown to have plain exteriors, the carrier 11 enhances both the display and graphic qualities of printed cans by not obstructing any viewing angles or can graphics while providing the necessary support. in addition, the blank 10 is preferably constructed from transparent material so that both portions of the cans C which are surrounded by the carrier Hi can likewise be viewed through the material of the carrier.

Though the carrier llll has been described as being used at the upper ends of the cans C, like carriers 11 may be used in duplicate, one at the upper portion and one at the lower portion of each package 12. This allows an unlimited variation in the shipping, packing and display qualities of the package.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. A blank adapted to form a carrier for a plurality of articles arranged in transverse pairs comprising an elongated sheet of material having a pair of longitudinal edge portions and a pair of transverse edge portions, a plurality of spaced out lines disposed generally along the longitudinal center line of said sheet, a out line adapted to receive an article disposed between each longitudinal edge portion and said longitudinal center line, said article-receiving cut lines partially overlapping and spanning the distance between an adjacent pair of said plurality of spaced cut lines, and at least additional cut line means adjacent and on opposite sides of each of said articlereceiving cut lines to define therewith at least a pair of narrow bands adapted to partially surround a portion of each article positioned within each of said article-receiving cut lines.

2. The blank as defined in claim 1 including a further out line adjacent each of said article-receiving cut lines at a side opposite each additional out line to thereby define an additional narrow band adapted to partially surround another portion of each article positioned within each of said articlerecciving cut lines.

3. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said additional cut line is each of a shorter length than its associated articlereceiving cut line.

4. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said additional out line is each of a shorter length than its associated articlereceiving cut lines and terminates at each of its ends short of ends of the article-receiving cut lines.

5. The blank as defined in claim 2 wherein said additional and further cut lines are each of a shorter length than their associated article-receiving cut line.

6. The blank as defined in claim 5 wherein said additional and further cut lines terminate at each of their ends short of the ends of the article-receiving cut lines.

7. The blank as defined in claim 5 wherein said additional and further cut lines are in generally parallel relationship to each other.

8. A package comprising a plurality of articles arranged in transverse pairs, a carrier formed from a normally planar sheet of material, a plurality of transversely adjacent openings formed by cut lines of said normally planar sheet disposed generally parallel to a longitudinal centerline thereof, an article snugly received in each of said openings, and a cut line adjacent each opening defining a narrow gripping band integrally connected to said carrier and partially surrounding each article.

9. The package as defined in claim 8 wherein each article includes a first circumferential portion of a greater dimension than an adjacent second circumferential portion, and each band snugly surrounds said second circumferential portions immediately adjacent said first circumferential portions.

10. The blank as defined in claim 5 wherein all of the cut lines are substantially parallel and said additional and further cut lines terminate at each of their ends short of the ends of the respective adjacent article-receiving cut lines. 

1. A blank adapted to form a carrier for a plurality of articles arranged in transverse pairs comprising an elongated sheet of material having a pair of longitudinal edge portions and a pair of transverse edge portions, a plurality of spaced cut lines disposed generally along the longitudinal center line of said sheet, a cut line adapted to receive an article disposed between each longitudinal edge portion and said longitudinal center line, said article-receiving cut lines partially overlapping and spanning the distance between an adjacent pair of said plurality of spaced cut lines, and at least additional cut line means adjacent and on opposite sides of each of said article-receiving cut lines to define therewith at least a pair of narrow bands adapted to partially surround a portion of each article positioned within each of said article-receiving cut lines.
 2. The blank as defined in claim 1 including a further cut line adjacent each of said article-receiving cut lines at a side opposite each additional cut line to thereby define an additional narrow band adapted to partially surround another portion of each article positioned within each of said article-receiving cut lines.
 3. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said additional cut line is each of a shorter length than its associated article-receiving cut line.
 4. The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said additional cut line is each of a shorter length than its associated article-receiving cut lines and terminates at each of its ends short of ends of the article-receiving cut lines.
 5. The blank as defined in claim 2 wherein said additional and further cut lines are each of a shorter length than their associated article-receiving cut line.
 6. The blank as defined in claim 5 wherein said additioNal and further cut lines terminate at each of their ends short of the ends of the article-receiving cut lines.
 7. The blank as defined in claim 5 wherein said additional and further cut lines are in generally parallel relationship to each other.
 8. A package comprising a plurality of articles arranged in transverse pairs, a carrier formed from a normally planar sheet of material, a plurality of transversely adjacent openings formed by cut lines of said normally planar sheet disposed generally parallel to a longitudinal centerline thereof, an article snugly received in each of said openings, and a cut line adjacent each opening defining a narrow gripping band integrally connected to said carrier and partially surrounding each article.
 9. The package as defined in claim 8 wherein each article includes a first circumferential portion of a greater dimension than an adjacent second circumferential portion, and each band snugly surrounds said second circumferential portions immediately adjacent said first circumferential portions.
 10. The blank as defined in claim 5 wherein all of the cut lines are substantially parallel and said additional and further cut lines terminate at each of their ends short of the ends of the respective adjacent article-receiving cut lines. 